Across town, in another part of Midland, is the final resting site for my grandfather, Albert Cripps. He died in 1995, at the age of 80, a victim of the tainted blood scandal that rocked Canada back in the ’90s.

Why would a husband and wife be buried in two separate cemeteries?

It’s a question that has bothered me for years. The sad reason comes down to religion.

The Midland area represents a dichotomy of two large faith groups. Historically, Midland was an English Protestant town, while neighbouring Penetanguishene was, and still is, largely French Catholic.

Somehow, despite the religious adversity between Catholics and Protestants that existed in Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries, my grandparents found love and started a family.

But over time, grandpa never seemed to get past his dislike of the Catholic religion. On Sundays, when the family would go to church, grandpa would drop off grandma and the kids at the Catholic church, and go to a separate mass at the United Church. Grandpa never stepped inside the Catholic church. He was an Orangeman through and through.

Meanwhile, grandma took the lead in raising the first three children as Catholics. Grandpa didn’t care much for religion in his early years, and made a promise at the alter that his devout Catholic wife could raise the children according to her beliefs.

In his 30s, after battling the demons of alcoholism and gambling, grandpa rediscovered religion as part of what would become a lifelong commitment to Alcoholic Anonymous.

When my grandparents had a fourth child in the 1950s, grandpa broke his wedding vow and insisted the child be raised Protestant.

When grandma died, she was buried at the Catholic cemetery. Despite the fact the Cripps family plot was located in the local Protestant cemetery in Midland, there was no way grandma would be buried there.

At the time she died, my father and his sister bought up six plots around grandma. This is where they plan to rest.

When grandpa died in 1995, there was no way he would be buried in the Catholic cemetery, beside his wife. So he was buried beside his parents across town.

Today, there is no Catholic-Protestant dispute in our family. But the story of my grandparents is a good lesson on how religion can drive a wedge, not only between families, but neighbours.

With Canada becoming a more pluralistic society, religion should never be the cause of conflict. Religious beliefs are important, but human relationships outside of personal faith are the force that keeps us together as a society. Maybe one day, there will be no such thing as segregated cemeteries.

Di Ianni to enter mayor’s race

I fully expect Larry Di Ianni to announce his intentions to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

The announcement will likely come early next week, possibly Monday.

His entry into the race for the mayor’s job will no doubt infuse increased interest in the election. When it comes to Di Ianni, there seems to be two camps out there — those who support him, and those who loathe him.

With a voter turnout rate in the last municipal election of just over 30 per cent, having a strong race for mayor should motivate voters to get out and have their say.

Should Di Ianni be successful in winning the election, he would make Hamilton history.

Charles Magill was the last person to serve various terms as mayor. He was first appointed mayor in 1854-55, again in 1865-66 and finally served as head of council from 1882-83.

Should Eisenberger return as mayor, he would be the first mayor since amalgamation to win subsequent terms. The last Hamilton mayor to win multiple terms was Robert Morrow, who served for 18 years between 1982-2000.

Politically, Hamilton is known as a strong support base for the NDP and Liberal parties. However, it is interesting to note that three of Hamilton’s last four mayors are considered Conservatives — Morrow, Bob Wade and Eisenberger.